Dismissed Stevens Juror Lied to Go to the Racetrack

As it turned out, her father had not died. Marian Hinnant merely wanted to go to the races. And, she was not about to let the trial of Senator Ted Stevens get in her way.

On Monday, Ms. Hinnant stunned a courtroom when she confessed she had concocted a story about her father’s death to be let off the jury that would, a day later, convict Mr. Stevens of Alaska on ethics violations.

Ms. Hinnant said she had lied to attend the Breeders’ Cup at Santa Anita racetrack in California.

Just hours before the jury delivered the guilty verdict on Oct. 27, a new juror was seated to replace Ms. Hinnant. Judge Emmet G. Sullivan of Federal District Court was sympathetic when he learned of Ms. Hinnant’s apparent loss but he was troubled that she failed to return phone calls to his chamber and ordered her to appear in court.

Ms. Hinnant, 52, was accompanied Monday by A. J. Kramer, the federal public defender, who said she had lied about the death. “She used that as an excuse,” Mr. Kramer said, according to witnesses. Ms. Hinnant then began rambling about horse breeding and other topics, people in court said.

Judge Sullivan interrupted her, saying: “I am thoroughly convinced you would not have been able to deliberate” and dismissed her.

Read full article here. [Brooks Holland]